Some are convinced that this is an authentic daguerreotype image of the Prophet Joseph. I spoke with one of them today \u2014 he is a professional artist and has studied the image for years \u2014 and hope to hear some more from him on the topic. If this is authentic, it\u2019s very exciting. Some in the past have argued against it\u2019s being Joseph, but I\u2019m open to persuasion.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
Heber C. Kimball told a story of Joseph\u2019s being reduced to tears at a little girl\u2019s simple faith. \u00a0\u201cHe was gentle to children,\u201d remembered George Q. Cannon, \u201cand universally won their love.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\nWhen Martin Harris lost 116 manuscript pages of the translation. Joseph\u2019s mother recalls his reaction: \u201c\u2018Oh, my God!\u2019 said Joseph, clinching his hands. \u2018All is lost! All is lost! What shall I do? I have sinned\u2014it is I who tempted the wrath of God.\u2019\u201d \u201cHe wept and groaned,\u201d she says, \u201cand walked the floor continually.\u201d His sister Katharine remembers that \u201che fasted and prayed several days\u201d after he learned what had happened.<\/span><\/p>\nSuch displays of emotion seem difficult to counterfeit. If they were fake, Joseph Smith must have been guilty of an almost unfathomable cynicism. But of such cynicism and falsity his friends and associates saw no trace whatever. \u201cThe people fairly adored him,\u201d recounted one woman. \u00a0He showed \u201cnot the least affectation,\u201d remembered Wandle Mace. \u00a0\u201cThere was not the slightest appearance of ostentation or conscious power on his part,\u201d recollected Mercy R. Thompson. \u201cHe was as free and sociable as though we had all been his own brothers and sisters, or members of one family. He was as unassuming as a child.\u201d \u00a0A member of the United States Congress wrote to his wife, following a meeting with Joseph Smith in Washington, that \u201cEverything he says is said in a manner to leave an impression that he is sincere. . . . In his garb there are no peculiarities, his dress being that of a plain, unpretending citizen.\u201d \u00a0A reporter in Washington D.C. by the name of Matthew L. Davis commented on Joseph\u2019s appearance during a sermon there. \u201cHe is sincere,\u201d Davis wrote. \u201cThere is no levity, no fanaticism, no want of dignity in his deportment. . . . He is but a man, he said; a plain, untutored man; seeking what he should do to be saved.\u201d \u00a0A Methodist minister by the name of Prior visited Nauvoo in 1842 or 1843 and attended a Sunday service at which Joseph spoke. Later, he wrote that he had been expecting to see a guilt-ridden, hyperemotional fanatic. \u201cBut how was I disappointed when instead of the heads and horns of the beast and false prophet, I beheld only the appearance of a common man. . . . I was sadly disappointed.\u201d Still, he was sure that Joseph\u2019s sermon would meet his expectations. But it didn\u2019t. \u201cHe commenced calmly, and continued dispassionately to pursue his subject. . . . He glided along through a very interesting and elaborate discourse with all the care and happy facility of one who was well aware of his important station, and his duty to God and man.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
Posted from Nauvoo, Illinois<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u00a0 \u00a0 Heber C. Kimball told a story of Joseph\u2019s being reduced to tears at a little girl\u2019s simple faith. \u00a0\u201cHe was gentle to children,\u201d remembered George Q. Cannon, \u201cand universally won their love.\u201d When Martin Harris lost 116 manuscript pages of the translation. Joseph\u2019s mother recalls his reaction: \u201c\u2018Oh, my God!\u2019 said Joseph, clinching […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1019,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-26583","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n
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